Sell the sizzle, not the steak. That adage was one I heard often when working on used car lots years ago. It was a favored line of the sales staff and a concept that seemed to underpin many a sales meeting.

But the idea of selling the illusion is not something I was very good at, and so my career as a used car salesman was brief. Instead I worked in the garage with things that were a bit more tangible.

With that as an introduction, I have a few recommendations. This is in response to questions I receive about walking shoes, cameras, walking sticks, and the various gear used at Jim Hinckley’s America. If you find this blog post helpful, please let us know in the comments and perhaps it will become a regular feature.

Sell The Sizzle

Let’s start with hiking boots. I am not selling the sizzle or the steak, but I am giving the Yosemite by Hi Tec A Jim Hinckley’s America tested product seal of approval.

It took me a bit of time to move on from the old fashioned thick soled, full leather boot. And it took a bit longer to find a boot that was reasonably-priced as well as durable. Well, I am on my third pair of these boots by Hi Tec and so feel confident about making the recommendation.

As followers of the Decade With Jim series on our Instagram page know, the morning walkabout is a big part of the Jim Hinckley’s America experience. An ankle broken several times still gives me problems so I appreciate the ankle support that these boots provide.

In the course of a year I walk nearly 1,000 miles over some pretty rough terrain. And as these boots are my primary shoe, I probably add another four or five hundred miles in just regular daiily walking.

I replace these boots about every 12 to 14 months. The old pair is kept as a work shoe for yard work and home repair. So, these boots survive at least 18 months of pretty rough duty.

Jim Hinckley’s America Seal of Approval

Surprisingly I haven’t spent a lot of time recommending or endorsing products. I have, however, given the Jim Hinckley’s seal of approval to museums, motels, restaurant and a few businesses.

I take each recommendation seriously. After all, my name is on the line. But I also feel a certain responsibility to followers of our YouTube channel, podcast, and blog posts.

So, I made the decision to step up to the plate and share some products that have been given real world testing by me. As noted, I receive numeorus inquiries about things such as hiking boots. My response is usually private correspondence.

Now, however, I am going be sharing them with a wider audiencce. So, if you have questions about the gear we use, let me know. I will provide honest reviews. And if I am not familiar with a product, or haven’t tested it, I will try and rectify that shortcoming.

So, now I have a couple of questions. First, did you find this blog post helpful or informativve? Two, would you like to see similar blog posts on a regular basis? If so, drop a note in the comment section and let me know what you want tested.